Combined step-ladder



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

S. D. FRY. COMBINED STEP LADDER, GOT, IRONING BOARD, AND GHAIR.

mum wot Patented July 22, 1890.

' (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

I s. 1). FRY. COMBINE D STEP LADDER, GOT, IRONING BOARD, AND CHAIR.

No. 432,869, 'Patented.July 22, 1890.

QXWm wooeo I Snow W06 13 abhovneq UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN D. FRY, OF ATTIOA, INDIANA.

COMBINED STEP-LADDER, COT, lRONlNG-BOARD, AND CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 432,869, dated July 22, 1890.

Application filed February 25. 1890, Serial No. 341,699. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN D. FRY, acitizen ofthe United States, residing at Attica, in the county of Fountain and State of Indi a-na, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Step-Ladder, Cot, Ironing-Board, and Chair, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved article of household furniture, the parts of which are so constructed that their relative positions may be varied at will and arranged so as to adapt the article to use as a chair, an ironingtable, a step-ladder, or a cot, as may be desired.

Theabove-ment-ioned objects are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my invention with the parts thereof so arranged that it may be used as a chair. Fig. 2 represents a side elevation, showing the parts arranged to-form an ironing-board and support for the same. Fig. 3 represents a vertical central section, showing the parts arranged as a step-ladder. Fig. 4: represents a side elevation with the parts arranged to form a cot, and Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal sectional view, showing the parts folded.

The letter A indicates two main side rails constructed of wood or other suitable mate rial, and connected near one end by means of a fiat cross-beam B, which is rigidly secured to the said rails by means of nails or bolts passing through the rails into the ends of said cross-beam. At equidistant intervals above said cross-beam are located cross-beams C, which are provided with journals at their ends, which set in bearings in the opposite rails, so as to turn therein and admit the beams to be turned longitudinally to or at right angles with the side rails. The said beams serve to connect and brace the beams and also as supports and steps for the ladder and other parts, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The letter D indicates two rails, which are pivoted to the journals of the upper beam 0, which project beyond the sides of the rails A for the purpose, and the said rails D are-conused as a step-ladder.

nected and braced by a cross-beam E, which prevents them from spreading and becoming detached. The lower ends of the said rails are beveled, and to the said beveled ends at one side are hinged the oppositely-beveled ends of two rails F, which are connected by cross-braces G, as shown. The rails D and F at the sides opposite the hinges are provided with fastening-hooks H and eyes I, by means of which'they may be rigidly held in line with each other when required.

The letter K indicates a rectangular seatframe having side rails connected at their rear ends by pivot-pins to suitable flat links L, which are pivoted to the outside of the rails A, near their lower ends, the said links extending inside the side rails of the seatframe, so that said rails may in some of the positions of the seat-frame be made to embrace the side rails A, as more fully hereinafter explained. The forward ends of the rails of the seat-frame have loosely secured to them rods M, which are adapted to set in suitable reoesses in the forward edges of the side rails A to hold the seat in position to serve as a chair, as more fully hereinafter explained.

The letter N indicates a fiat board tapering from a broadened base to a rounded apex, and the base of the board is provided with flat tongues or projections P, of metal or other suitable material, for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The letter S indicates two hooks arranged one on each of the rails A, which engage the eyes of bolts T, fastened in the rails F when the device is used as a chair.

To the rear edges of the cross beams or steps 0, near their ends, are hinged the rails U, by means of which the pivoted cross beams or steps may be swung into and held in a horizontal position when the device is employed as a step-ladder. These rails U,when strongly. hinged to the bottoms of the steps, as shown in Fig. 3, will serve to support and hold the steps in a horizontal position when The central crossbeam is provided with recesses V on its front face, into which the tongues P of the ironing board fit when in use, anda strap W is socured to the rails Ato hold the upper part of the board in place when the device is used as a chair, the board in such case constituting the back of the chair.

When the parts are adjusted for use as a step-ladder or ironing-board, the supports may be prevented from spreading, it any such means are needed, by means of the ordinary rods S, used for this purpose, as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3. \Vhen adjusted to form acot, as shown in Fig. 4, it is thought no means will be required to keep the supports from spreading; but in case it should be necessary similar hooks may be employed, as shown in dotted lines in said figure.

To arrange the device to be used as a chair, as shown in Fig. 1, the cross-beams O are set in line with the rails A, the rails U lying closely to the rear faces of said beams. The rails A are set in an inclined position and the rails D brought up against the side of said rails A, the hook H being disconnected from the eye I. The rails F are then set back at an angle to the rails D and secured in position by the hooks S and eyes T, so as to support the rails A. The links L, which support the rear of the seat-frame K, are then turned upward, so as to be parallel, or nearly so, with the rails A, and the seat-frame is set in an approximately horizontal position and supported by the rods M, the lower ends of which are set in the recesses at the edges of the rails A, near their lower ends. The base of the board N is then placed against the upper edge of the cross-beam B, with the tongues P setting behind said beam. The back of the board, when in this position, rests against the .front faces of the cross-beams O and is held there by the strap W, so as to serve as a back to the chair.

When the device is to be employed for ironing, the rails D and F are brought into line with each other and secured by means of the hooks H and eyes I. The links L are then set forward at an angle to the rails A and the seat-frame elevated, as shown, and

held in position by means or" the hooks S,which engage the eyebolts X, secured to the side rails of'the seat-frame. The board N is then removed, the tongues P placed in the recesses, and the lower side of the board allowed to rest upon the upper edge of the seat-frame, which will hold the board in position for ironing.

When the device is to be employed as a step-ladder, the relative positions of the rails A in respect to the rails D and F are re versed, as shown in Fig. 3, the rails D and F being fastened rigidly by the hooks H and eyes I. The linksL and seat-frame K are then turned back out of the way and the rails.

U brought down, so as to set the cross-beams O in a horizontal position to form the steps of the ladder, the rails U extending outward and forming hand-holds to be used in ascending, as well as braces to hold the steps in position.

\Vhen the device is to be employed as a cot, the rails F are turned upward out of the way, as shown in Fig. 4c of the drawings, permitting the rails D to rest upon their beveled ends. The links L are turned backward at an angle to the rails A, and the seat-frame is turn ed upward and forward at an angle to the links, the forward end of the seat-frame being supported by the rods M, the lower ends of which rest upon the floor. WVhen in this position, the board N occupies the same relative position as when the device is used for a chair.

When not in use, the rails D and F and the seat-frame K are folded up against the rails A, as shown in Fig. 5, in which the parts will be compactly arranged for storage or transportation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. The combination of the side rails A A, connected together, the steps or cross-beams O, pivoted between the side rails, the side rails D D, pivoted near their upper ends on the outside of the main rails A, rails or legs F F, hinged to the lower ends of the rails D, hooks H and S and their eyes, the seat K, pivotally connected to the lower ends of the main rails by means of links L, and supporting-rods for the said seat, whereby the said parts may be formed either into a chair, a step-ladder, ora cot, substantially as described. v

' 2. In a combined seat and ironing-board, the combination of the main side piecesAA, connected together by cross-beams, a jointed support, composed of the rails D and F, for the said side pieces, a seat K, pivotally connected to the main side rails near their lower ends on the outside by means of pivotal links L L, supports for the said seat, and a movable ironing-board provided with a lip Pto engage one of the said cross-beams, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. 

